The National Hunt Trainers’ Championship carries no cash prize, but it undoubtedly means more to Paul Nicholls than pretty much anything else in the sport.

For evidence, recall the master of Ditcheat’s reaction when winning the most valuable and prestigious jump race in the world, The Grand National, for the first time back in 2012.

Most trainers would trot out a 'This is a dream come true' or 'I’m going to have to pinch myself to make sure I’m awake', but not Nicholls. His immortal first line was: 'It’s blown Nicky Henderson out the water. That’s put that game over for another season.' Priceless stuff.

So what of this season? Can HMS Nicholls find the ammunition to sink Henderson once again?

Happy capper 1: Paul Nichols with two of his Cheltenham horses Unioniste (left) and Siluivial Conti ahead of the 2003 festival

Happy capper 2: Trainer Nicky Henderson with Sprinter Sacre during a stable visit at Seven Barrows, Lambourn in November

Well, back in September, Paul Nicholls conceded the title before the season had even begun, declaring that 'we have no chance of winning it this season', perhaps employing the oldest of tactics – that of ‘tempting fate’.

In fairness, you could see why he thought that fate might need some tempting this season. Looking through bookmakers Ante-Post lists there was Mytentoryours, Bobs Worth, Simonsig, Long Run, Oscar Whisky, Grandouet and of course the mighty Sprinter Sacre heading the markets in several divisions.

Henderson seemed to have every base covered on paper. But, races aren’t run on paper and although the Henderson team won’t be panicking yet, they have made a stuttering start to the season.

Bobs Worth and Long Run have both disappointed, Simonsig picked up an injury that will keep him out until the New Year, Binocular has been retired and Sprinter Sacre suffered a minor setback, which meant he didn’t mop up a ‘banker’ prize in the Tingle Creek Chase.

Plus, in the first big Grade Novice Chase of the season, it was Nicholls’s Hinterland who somewhat surprisingly got the better of Henderson’s Grandouet.

After last weekend’s haul of six winners, Nicholls will surely have had a long look at the prize-money standings and pondered – ‘could we actually win this?’

The answer now is yes – it is genuine possibility. Nicholls has two live chances in the King George with Al Ferof and Silviniaco Conti, who could both also be major players in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Hinterland, Wonderful Charm and Mr Mole are three novice Chasers capable of landing big prizes, while Celestial Halo, Zarkandar and the returning Big Buck’s give Nicholls major firepower in the staying hurdle division.

Sure, Henderson has plenty of very good horses and a stronger team overall, but barring Sprinter Sacre, none of them can be considered good things to dominate any division, especially as Willie Mullins possesses such a strong group of hurdlers.

Nicholls also enjoys a lead of just under £200,000 at the time of writing, which is roughly what Sprinter Sacre will pocket if he wins the Champion Chase. Make no mistake, the odds still favour Henderson, but we now have a battle on our hands – and there’s no-one who enjoys a fight more than Paul Nicholls.

Coral will be offering a particularly generous Price Bomb tomorrow in the Stan James International Hurdle tomorrow, the 3.00 Cheltenham. I can’t reveal precise details at this stage, but can reveal that the price will be generous and won’t have been set by us odds-compilers. We will be blaming the marketing department if this one goes in!

WEEKEND NAP – RIVELLINO (8.50 Wolverhampton) was spoken of as a potential group horse by connections earlier in the season. He still has a fair amount of improving to do to justify those claims, but looks to have an excellent chance of gaining an overdue win tomorrow. Karl Burke’s gelding never really got into a hot race last time at Lingfield from a wide draw, but this looks significantly easier and he could potentially outclass tomorrow’s opponents.

WEEKEND BISMARCK –ZARKANDAR (3.00 Cheltenham) may have won the equivalent race last season, but that was contested on heavy ground and it is very hard to see him having the pace to trouble The New One over this trip tomorrow. Paul Nicholls’s charge ran an honest race last time at Ascot, but Annie Power had way too much speed in the closing stages and it confirmed that Zarkandar needs a real emphasis on stamina at the top level these days. One to watch out for at a bigger price in the race is Court Minstrel, who should at last get his preferred decent ground.